Page 32 of Fall at Once

They probably wanted me to take him back. They were the ones who introduced us, and he was part of their circle of friends. It must have been awkward for them, considering how I broke up with him at our anniversary dinner and hadn’t spoken to him since.

I was hurt and angry, and it was ruining my mood.

“Bad news? Is everything okay?”

“Yeah, I’m fine. I—uh, you know what? I’m not fine, and I’m pissed off all over again. I came to Cozy Creek for two reasons: to help Gigi and to forget about my ex. Breakups just fucking suck.”

“You got that right. I’ve been there. Sometimes, it hits you out of nowhere.”

“Yeah. I want my good mood back, damn it. Not this crushing sense of doomed reality that has plagued me off and on ever since I got here.”

“Fuck that guy. Seriously. I don’t know him, but I know you deserve better. Don’t let him ruin your day.”

“You’re good people, Noah.”

“Tell that to—never mind.”

I tilted my head questioningly. “Fuck that girl?”

“I wish.”

“Ahh, gotcha.”

“But in a nice way,” he clarified with a grin. “A respectable way.”

“You’re a true gentleman. All a lady wants is a respectable fuck and someone to make her days better.” I made jokes whenever I was upset. It could not be helped.

He burst out laughing. “Well, I hope you get what you want.”

“It’s not going to happen today, that’s for sure. Later, Noah.”

“See you around.” Since he was going and I was coming. I waved goodbye before entering my apartment.

The rest of the week was going to suck now that I knew my sisters were coming to drop some bomb on me about Ross. Andknowing them, they wouldn’t tell me over the phone—the drama queens.

Whatever. I didn’t want to hear their opinions anyway.

These situations are what books and wine were for. And cats, I had cats to love now. I’d think about everything later, including Cole.

Or maybe it was best to only think about Cole when I had to spend time with him, like during the next meeting we had scheduled to finish planning the fundraiser.

Now was not the time to catch feelings for someone. I was clearly not over my breakup—I was definitely over Ross—but the leftover feelings of resentment about all the time he had stolen from me and how I had let him take advantage of me were still there. I had some shit to work through. I would be nobody’s doormat ever again.

It was probably best to stick to strictly business with Cole, especially since I’d be returning to Colorado Springs after Gigi’s ankle healed.

Kenny greeted me with a plaintive meow as I headed into the living room to plop on the couch. “Come here. I forgive you. It wasn’t all bad. I found out I could still climb a tree. And I was carried up the stairs by the hottest man in existence—which I’ll be writing all about in my journal later, and I owe it all to you.” I scooped him up and settled him on my chest, remembering how it felt to have Cole taking care of me in here earlier today.

“Damn it, Kenny. I like him too much. Make it stop.”

Victor raised his head from the chair by the fireplace toacknowledge my presence, then promptly fell back to sleep with a soft, trilling snore. “Good to see you too.” He was sweet but mostly uninterested in me unless I was filling his food bowl or bribing him for attention with a cat treat. He reminded me of Ross in that way. Rude.

Sage hopped up and nudged her body between Kenny and my neck to rest her head on my chin. Her golden-yellow eyes glowed into mine, and I couldn’t help but feel a bit judged.

“Well, what do you want me to do?”

She placed a paw on my cheek and purred.

“Okay, fine. Spending the rest of the day moping around the apartment is a bad idea. I guess I could go back downstairs. Kenzie is always good for a laugh.”

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